Graduation Speech

I have seriously considered posting this speech on my blog. I wavered and usually came down on the side of not posting it. It did not seem right to post such a self-interested and private document on the global interchange of blogs. Yet, now I am posting in spite of my premonitions. Several reasons have led to this course of events. First, several people who were not present at my graduation would like to view it, and this seemed like an effective method to make it readily available. Second, I hope that people who know me would have a better idea of how to pray for me. Third, my speech champions Jesus Christ foremost, and my parents and other teachers also. This gives me a chance to further their fame and worth. Last, I hope this may, in some small way, encourage others, who did not have perfect educations, to see the exceeding grace they did receive. The Freudian may reply that, despite my precautions to avoid pride, pride still was a dominant factor in publishing this speech. I am no Freudian, and have little to say to him, nor will I apologies for subconscious motives. My aim for this speech remains the same as the first time I read it, Soli Deo Gloria. If you believe that this speech in any way compromises this aim, let me know and I will remove it.
Ryan Golias



Graduation Speech

As a graduate, and the sole graduate at this ceremony, I believe tradition expects me to paint a rose-colored portrait of my education thus far, and give great thanks to all my perfect teachers for the creation of such a perfect student. The impetus for such a speech must spring from one of two causes. First, the student may actually be perfect and may have received a perfect education, or, secondly, he may whish to believe against reality in a dream. I do not whish to mislead you in either regard. I do not believe my education was perfect, nor, far more importantly, was I the best student (and let the blame lie there if anywhere). I cannot even say confidently, that regardless to my academic prowess, I always worked hard. I know there were times when I should have, and could have worked harder. Finally, I which to be true. This brings me to one other possible reason for speaking tonight, my reason for speaking. What help I have had has been so good, efficacious, gracious, and free that I have no right not to mention and commend it only because it did not realize all my dreams. Also, having admitted that I am not perfect, or even close, I would ask for your continued help.

We are apt to think rather too highly of ourselves and too lowly of others. When good things happen too ourselves we are all too ready to dismiss them as our right. We all too easily loose sight of the grace of God. Because you belong to a certain socio-economic class, or were born into such and such a family, or so on, you now think that you deserve certain niceties? The middle class American no longer feels surprise at the gift of daily bread, nor do we often pray for it. Why should we, it is our right? If one is given over to serious thought on this issue he will see that nothing but a superabundance of the grace of God separates us from others. Even our daily bred comes from that one source. A man on the street, a suicide victim, a drug abuse, a murderer; only the direct intervention of God has made me a different man. So “far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.”[1]

Know then that I stand in front of you tonight only because of the cross. Why was I born into a family that loved me? Why was I born in 1987, not 1887, or any other time? Why did I grow up in a church? Why did I receive an education? Why have I been healthy enough to learn? Nothing but the grace of God is worthy of answering such questions. So tonight, I first and foremost must thank my Lord and God for all I have achieved. Loudest and longest should my shout be to my God, without whom I am nothing. While I stand guilty for all the wrong in my life, I claim no credit for anything good. And while I boast in my parents, teachers, and friends tonight, it is only because I see the providential fingerprints of God on my life through them.

Besides God, the lion’s share of credit must go home to my mom and dad for getting me to the front of this room. Everyday, without respite, they have raised me for the past eighteen years. Not to say I brought no happiness to our home, but I know also the trails and tribulations I have caused are great and many. Not only did they bear with me everyday, they refused to hand me over to the state for instruction, but took on that extra responsibility themselves. I am indebted to them for meeting every material and earthly need I have had. Food, shelter, clothing; can these really be taken for granted because half the world has them? No, we know better. Surely we cannot take for granted today the privilege of being raised in a two-parent home. So much the more that both my parents loved each other and me. These, and so many more things have my parents done for me. I did not deserve this. Oh, how sweet the doctrine of adoption appears when I reflect upon what it has meant to be a son of my father and mother. What bliss to be a Son of God if this is what it is to be son of man!

My education, in the broadest sense – the most meaningful one – started before school. During the first years of learning we assemble our basic presuppositions, fixing our loyalties and hatreds concerning truth. “Hence,” as C. S. Lewis writes, “human beings must be trained in obedience to moral intuitions almost before they have them, and years before they are rational enough to discuss them, or they will be corrupted before the time for discussion arrives.”[2] How great then is the gift to be given good moral intuitions? I grew up calling Jesus as Lord, from whence it logically proceeded to surrender my life to Him. I never had to overcome a Muslim hate for the Son of God, nor a sense of fear from tribal spirits, nor a materialistic indifference to right and wrong, nor even a strong skepticism of truth. This is a priceless gift.

What of my formal education? Let us start with what it was not. School is dangerous. Let Machen describe it for us: “Freedom of thought in the middle ages was combated by the Inquisition, but the modern method is far more effective. Place the lives of children in their formative years, despite the convictions of their parents, under the intimate control of experts appointed by the state, force them then to attend schools where the higher aspirations of humanity are out, and where the mind is filled with the materialism of the day, and it is difficult to see how even the remnants of liberty can subsist. Such a tyranny, supported as it is by a perverse technique used as the instrument in destroying human souls, is certainly far more dangerous than the crude tyrannies of the past, which despite their weapons of fire and sword permitted thought at least to be free.”[3] It is no little thing to come through high school with one’s soul intact. I believe in truth, right and wrong, sin, and the glorious worth of God, not just intuitionally, but logically. This also is no small thing, and I owe it to my education. I owe it to my parents who did not leave me to the “experts,” but committed to teaching me what is right.

Not only did I get a chance at this education, my parents consistently urged me toward it. Day in and day out they were there - pushing, prodding, and working through it all over again with me. When I was ready to quit, they did not let me quit. When I could not see, they would sit with me till I could see. Discouraged; they encouraged me, disheartened; they strengthened me. They have always taught me, and when I was unteachable they worked to make me teachable again. I must give special thanks to my mother. Every day she was with me and attempted to teach me. Neither day nor night gave her reprieve from her labor of love. She was the one who taught me to read and write and sat by my desk every school day. She did not always know what she was doing, or what to do with me, but my mother never wavered in her commitment. I most likely will never know fully what it cost to raise me. It is a debt I can never hope to repay.

I am indebted to more than my parents. I owe all of you something, to some very much. I owe much to Mr. Oakes. He has been a faithful teacher, mentor, and friend for the past four years. He worked hard in his teaching to challenge and stretch his pupils, but ruled with a merciful hand. I have learned much studying under him, probable most significantly I have learned to meet knowledge with the heart in humility, both from word and example. Various tutors at YEAH academy have also taught me many things, to whom I am indebted.

Although not connected with my formal education, I must mention Box T camp and Mr. Tewksbury. I went to this camp four consecutive summers. Mr. Tewksbury, who ran the camp, will remain in my memory for a long time as a selfless servant and for his deep commitment to Christ. My experience at this camp, and with all the staff, stirred up my love for God.

Bethlehem has been one of the greatest blessings in my life. I have become a Christian at Bethlehem. All that I know about God, his matchless worth, total sovereignty, just wrath, incomprehensible love I learned through Bethlehem. Bethlehem has defined what it is to be a church in my life. The pastors and elders have been a constant example of Godliness and holiness before my eyes. They have practiced active love, showing me how and urging me to join them. Pastor Piper’s sermons have been an intellectual stimulant and a life-changing agent. I am deeply blessed to participate in Bethlehem and its mission, and gladly call it home.

All of you as friends and family have influenced me greatly, each in certain ways, some of which I am sure will not be discovered for a long time. Thank you all for being involved in my life, and for showing your support by coming tonight. One of the most impressive things I remember about my baptism was the crowd of people who prayed for me. I am sure I will also long remember your presence tonight, thank you. A friend is a dear thing, even dearer to those who have so few. For what is a man without friends? Thank you for being those friends.

A graduation however is not the end. I do not cease being either a person or learner because I graduate. Nor is it a signature of perfection. Graduation opens a door, through which there is another door. I am exchanging a smaller task for a greater, I am not leaving behind purpose. This is only one degree in a long progression foreword through life. What does a diploma buy me? More learning, more responsibility, more hard work. It is so much more of life, not less. So while it is good to reflect upon the past, let us not forget the future. The past is closed; the future is open, either to be lost or to be won.

If I have stumbled across this finish line, upon the shoulders of many strong friends, how much more will I need your help to cross the next line? The race will not end till I have won my reward. I am not afraid of what is to come, and I pledge to you that I will go to meet it. But I need your continued support, even more than before. So let me be so brave as to ask you to commit with me to “strain foreword to what lies ahead, pressing on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ.” And “let us hold true to what we have attained.”[4]

I beg of you stay as true as you have been for me all these years. I would also like to ask you to remember me in three particular requests.

Please pray, first, that I would apply all my knowledge in a manner pleasing to God. All knowledge demands an ethical response.[5] Pray that I would respond to what I have learned and all that I will learn. Knowledge is no good if it makes you a stuck up prig. Nor does it profit any if it stays dormant in one’s head. Rather “all knowledge that does not lead to practical love is to be pitied.”[6] So please pray that the more I learn the more I will love and become a blessing to others and a pleasing aroma to God.

Secondly, please pray that I would be able to trust God completely for the uncertain future of my life, but act wisely and responsible. It is all too easy to begin to doubt and question God. Yet, I also find myself slipping into a false trust. If God is sovereign, if he has a good plan for my future (which I do not doubt), than why do I need to do anything? I could just wait for it to happen to me. Yet God commands complete trust and active obedience. Both are necessary. Pray that I would balance them well.

Third, please pray that I would have a sense of vocation or calling. Pray that I would be able to apply my skills, abilities, and interests in a way that would serve others and glorify God. You all probably know that I am very uncertain in this area right now, and cannot give a very direct answer concerning what I am going to do. You will also see that this request ties in and overlaps the second, but I trust that the Spirit will intercede with unutterable groaning before the Father, and produce results beyond our imagination. In Him then I rest my hope.


Thank you all for coming tonight, for being and for continuing to be in my life.


[1] Galatians 6:14 ESV
[2] C. S. Lewis, “Why I am not a pacifist,” in The Weight of Glory, (New York: HarperCollins Publishers, 2001), 69.
[3] J. Gresham Machen, Christianity and Liberalism, (Grand Rapids, MI: WM. B Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1923), 14.
[4] Philippians 3:13b-14,16, slightly paraphrased from the ESV.
[5] An idea taken from John Frame, Doctrine of the Knowledge of God, (Pillipsburg, NJ: P & R Publishing).
[6] Iain H. Murray, The Old Evangelicalism; Old Truths For a New Awakening, (Edinburgh: Banner of Truth Trust, 2005), 125.